Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-29
, wrote ifrn q not thanking HIM for

ana wrote hin q not thanking hum for
the use Of them.
At length the noise OF shutting feet and
the voices Of the coiorsas woFsen who
carried in our provision a1ss heard in the
hall "a sound always welcome, for we
were hungry enough to make the coming
Of our miserable dinner a great event.
The door vas unIocked--only one was
kept fastened in the daytime now-ouI
food was handed in and the door locked ~
usual, while the company moved on to
give rations to the other prisoners
Again we heard the shutting feet in the
hsIi as the waters returned For mo-
rneut felt Il sharp, knifelke ran9 shoot
10 nv heart. So keen WAS it that |
Thought for moment that my physical
strength was aiout TO fail in this time
OF sore scnaetLing that had never
happened or even been feared before for
always in the presence ol staisc- Fad
possessed Els1re t.ian usual power Iut IN
an instant it passed away, and BOXED
ABOUT TO see il all were at their post. A
glance was enough TO show that there
wca!d be no ainching. The men looked
pale, but their teeth were firmly set. and
they were leaning slightly forward ike
horse straining on the bride. If there
was any fear it was that they would
strike even too soon. As for Capt Fry
whom had seen weeping few moments
before. he was perfectly calm and his face
wore pleasant smile.
As the jailer unlocked ard opened the
door for the bread pans TO be passed out,
FRI stepped forward in sach manner
that it could not be closed, and SAID yer?
quietly as If ii were The most Natural
thing ia the world:
"a pleasant evening. Mr.. Turner"
We Lad no thought Of hurting tie old
man If it could possibly be avoided, and
hoped to friglten HIN into surrendcriBe
and giving mp the keys without any alarm
Yes, rather pleasant responded he,
in dazed and bewiidered manner. He
could not understand what Fry had come
out there for.
The action of the next f2w moments
was so quick and under such fever of
excitement that accounts of bclh words
ard deeds vary widely. lhave Ice, nciled
them as far as | can. not always follow
ing my own recolisctions when the pre-
ponderance Of evidence is strongly against
me.
1--WE are going 10 take a little walk
this evening-we are going out of here"
continued Fry, standing close TO him, and
looking in his eye TO see the first symptom
Of a. motion. | was by his side equally
watchful. There was no fear Of an alarm
being given by the colored women. They
were frightened nearly white but were
our friends, and hail enough OF their wits
about taem to remain silent.
Turner seemed undecided GLOW abont
the guards iIo said in II feeble tone. We
were nearly all in the entry now, for
there had been q slow, almost unconscious
edgng forward, and half dozen low,
quick voices answered, Wen attend to
the guard, Mr.. Turner"
"Well, You can go then," he said trem-
bling, while his face seemed to grow even
whittier, for our looks We're not pleasant.
''Well, give us the keys, then, and
you'll not be hurt. said Fry, while BufIum
reached out his hand to take them.
The action seemed TO rouse Turner like
an electric spark you can't do that"
he said, and then sprang back, and opened
his mouth in the cry, "Guar"-when my
hand closed over his mouth and stiiled the
incipient alarm. 1t was scarcely fair, but
in moment the three of us were upon
him. Fry had clasped him round the body
and arms in no gentle embrace Buffum
had wrested away his keys, and was off
like n shot and unlocked The doors as II his
life depended upon it, while my hand had
effectuaily stopped all noise. He bit my
finger with all his might, but the teeth
were not sharp enough to do any real
injury, and the other bands were gliding
down stairs.
Bufrum unlocked all the doors easily till
he came TO the last one in which were the
four Union soldiers and the rebel deserter
Not one IN the other rooms dared come
forth! But the deserter was intensely
anxious. He encouraged Buffuni, saying
Don't hurry, it will come In n moment. -
Finally it yielded, and the poor fellow
flung himself out like u shot from can
non and was soon in the front of the flight
but the four others remained inside.
One OF the points about which there is a
little difference of opinion among us is
whether the attack on the guard below
was not a few seconds too quick--a most
natural error under the circumstances. If
all the doors could have been first I'M
locked, and all who were willing to go
have been ready, the jailer bound and
gagged and the whole number. led by
those who had been appointed for the
work. had burst upon the guard together,
it Is possible that the victory would have
been more decisive and the number of es-
capes larger. But Knight thought, as he
was gliding cautiously down the stair
group OF guards by the front gate indicat
ing alarm. In this case the attack could
not be delayed, and it WIS made with sur
passing boldness and success.